San
Mateo County lies in the heart of the most productive high technology
area of California. It is an area of growth and affluence. Yet many young
people graduate from high school with no marketable skills and no clear
idea of how to start on a track that might lead to a successful career.

The traditional
vocational training, that was once prevalent in high schools, although
still in existence, is no longer providing the desired results. The rapid
pace of technological innovation and social change plus the lack of skilled
teachers has contributed to increasing inadequacy of traditional vocational
training programs. School districts find it very expensive to maintain
these programs. The old patterns of boys in auto shop and metalworking
and girls in home economics no longer fits our working world. This is
especially true in San Mateo County where the hi-tech work is achieving
run-away success and men and women are nearly equal participants.

The Federal
Government has recognized this need and has initiated a School-to-Work
program that consists of grants to states which, in turn, pass through
the funds to school districts for specified programs. In addition, the
U.S. Department of Labor has appointed a group called the Secretarys
Commission on Achieving the Necessary Skills (SCANS). SCANS whose members
were appointed in 1990, has published a report: What Work Requires
of Schools. This report provides valuable focus for communities
and schools as they develop their programs.

The State
of California is a participant in the Federal Program but has renamed
the program School to Career. In San Mateo County, this program
is being coordinated at the San Mateo County Office of Education by an
administrator whose job title is Director, School-to-Career Partnership.
The six school districts with high schools have all agreed to participate
in the program.

The California
Partnership Academies Program helps to support programs throughout San
Mateo County. This program is separate from the federally funded School-to-Work
program and emphasizes mentoring by industry representatives, summer jobs
in the same fields introduced at school, and hands-on introduction to
skills and teamwork in the classroom. Students also receive the academic
foundation required for graduation from high school. The Academies Program
has been in existence for 20 years. It is not designed to apply to every
high school student like the School-to-Career program is attempting to
do. Rather, it is designed for students who are at risk of losing their
desire to succeed and need the encouragement, attention and the resulting
self-esteem that this program provides.

The Partnership
Academies Program is an excellent program which should be encouraged.
The School-to-Career Program has some of the same characteristics and
goals, but the significant difference is that the School-to-Career Program
will introduce all high school students to a career path and exposure
to a working environment.

The
San Mateo County 1998 Grand Jury observed successful efforts of a Computer
Repair Class at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara and an electronics assembly
class in the Partnership Academies Program of Sequoia High School in Redwood
City. Both have the common goal of introducing students to the working
world. Each are characterized most notably by a very turned on
and skilled teacher. They both use electronic assembly and test as their
hands-on project. Students are generally enthusiastic. Some students are
making a successful transfer into the hi-tech working environment. These
are successes that otherwise never would have occurred.

All high
schools in San Mateo County have agreed to participate in the School-to-Career
program. The 1997-1998 academic year was the first year of a five-year
effort. The program includes teacher training and interchange of teachers:
teachers go to industry and industry professionals to the schools. Each
high school has an on-site coordinator. The goal is for every high school
student in the County to have some kind of school-to-career exposure.

Although
the Partnership Academies Program in some high schools is running well,
the progress of School-to-Career programs throughout the county is questionable.
The San Mateo County 1998 Grand Jury has received no adequate responses
from the six school districts to its inquiry on the status of their School-to-Career
programs. For this program to be successful, teachers, principals, school
districts and the County Office of Education, along with the active participation
of industry, need to mobilize to put innovative School-to-Career programs
in place. This effort will take training, facilities, teacher-industry
interchange; and most important, guidance, political support, encouragement,
leadership and follow-through from the top school administrators in the
county.

The
San Mateo County 1998 Grand Jury commends the teachers and the administration
at Sequoia High School in Redwood City who have developed and teach an
electronic assembly and test course in the Partnership Academies Program.
In their classes, students are enthusiastically acquiring knowledge and
skills that are directly applicable to the current job market. These teachers
have the initiative, vision and dedication that are the key ingredients
to this successful program.

Recommendation
10: The Governing Boards of the six San Mateo County School Districts
with high schools should direct their Superintendents and staffs to vigorously
support and encourage the implementation of the School-to-Career Programs
in their high schools.

Recommendation
11: The San Mateo County 1999 Grand Jury should monitor the continued
establishment of the School-to-Career Program at all high schools in San
Mateo County.